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    You are here: Home » Food » Recipes » Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce Recipe (Carolina Style)

    Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce Recipe (Carolina Style)

    May 23, 2019 By Mary 8 Comments

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    vinegar bbq sauce pin

    An easy and versatile homemade Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce. This recipe is inspired by barbecue in the Carolinas and great on low and slow pork and chicken. This vinegar sauce is tangy with a hint of sweet.

    Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce in a mason jar
    Vinegar sauces have a liquid texture versus the thicker KC Style sauce.

    We love and respect all worlds of BBQ and various styles of BBQ sauces. For a rundown on different styles of sauces see this Guide to Regional BBQ Sauces.

    Carolina BBQ Sauce

    This barbecue sauce is inspired by Carolina style BBQ, and is easy to adapt to whatever you like. A Carolina style sauce is most commonly a simple and quick vinegar based BBQ Sauce that’s great on pulled pork and chicken. See below the recipe on how to embellish it to make it a mustard based sauce, which is another amazing Carolina gem.

    When I think of Carolina style BBQ I think of whole hog smoking, ribs, and all things pork. Pork isn’t everything, but is a big influence among the greatest pit masters throughout the region. Because of the acidity, we find this vinegar based style of sauce to be a great pairing for BBQ and wine or to adapt with a little bit of fruit jam.

    A spoonful of Sauce
    Thin sauce with a tangy flavor.

    How to make a Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce

    This style of sauce comes together fast and easy.

    1. Simply combine ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until sugar and spices all dissolve. Bring to a low simmer and cook 10-15 minutes, then turn off the heat. 
    2. Strain the sauce into a bowl to remove the chili pepper flakes and peppercorns. Then, when cool, place BBQ sauce into a jar with a tight sealing lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. 
    3. See notes to jazz up the recipe

    Want More BBQ Sauce Recipes?

    • Easy KC (Kansas City Style) BBQ Sauce
    • Pinot Noir BBQ Sauce
    • Spicy Mango Jalapeño BBQ Sauce (no sugar added)
    • Cherry Chipotle BBQ Glaze (great for chicken)

    And for a rundown on different styles of BBQ sauces, check out this post. 


    VInegar based BBQ sauce in a mason jar for storage.
    Store in a mason jar in the refrigerator for four weeks.

    *This recipe for Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce was originally published in 2014 on this post, and updated with photos for this post. 

    Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce Recipe

    Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce in a mason jar

    Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce (Carolina Style)

    Easy and basic vinegar based BBQ sauce that's great on pulled pork and chicken, inspired by Carolina Style BBQ.
    4.64 from 44 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 3 cups
    Calories: 302kcal
    Author: Mary Cressler | Vindulge
    Cost: $6

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups apple cider vinegar
    • 1 cup ketchup
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup hot sauce, (we err towards a savory style hot sauce, like Valentina)
    • 2 tablespoons chili powder
    • 2 tablespoons whole peppercorn
    • 1 tablespoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon red chili pepper flakes
    • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
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    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until sugar and spices all dissolve. Bring to a low simmer and cook 10-15 minutes, then turn off the heat. 
    • Strain the sauce into a bowl to remove the chili pepper flakes and peppercorns (and discard the pepper flakes and peppercorns). Then, when cool, place BBQ sauce into a jar with a tight sealing lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. 

    Notes

    For more heat, add more chili pepper flakes and let it sit unstrained for a period of time.
    Want to jazz up this sauce? Try adding mustard and honey!

    Mustard Based BBQ Sauce 

    Ingredients:
    • 2 Cups Vinegar Based Sauce (from above)
    • 1 Tablespoon honey
    • ¼ cup Dijon mustard (I find yellow mustard a touch acidic)
    Instructions:
    Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat up, whisk to incorporate the honey and mustard until a simmer, then turn off heat. If you like it a sweeter style, just add more honey.
    Find the perfect wine pairing at the Vindulge Wine Shop

    Nutrition

    Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3687mg | Potassium: 655mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 55g | Vitamin A: 2108IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe? We would love to see!Mention @vindulge or use the hashtag #vindulge

    If you like this recipe we’d truly appreciate it if you would give this recipe a star review! And if you share any of your pics on Instagram use the hashtag #vindulge. We LOVE to see it when you cook our recipes. 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. best brisket in america says

      May 30, 2022 at 3:56 am

      Barbecue is one of the most American food. It has numerous regional variations, like the Memphis sticky ribs, Central Texas smoked brisket, along with Kansas City’s burnt ends, and the Carolinas vinegar-and-mustard-sauced pig. The iconic cuisine is much more than you think.

      Reply
      • Sean Martin says

        May 30, 2022 at 12:46 pm

        We actually talk about that very statement in several of our recipes and regional sauces.

        Reply
    2. Cindy says

      November 04, 2021 at 4:04 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this awesome recipe! My husband just requested this sauce to go with the pork I have simmering in the crockpot. The first time I made it was last summer. I took it on a camping trip where I served BBQ to a group of friends. They loved it!

      Reply
      • Sean Martin says

        November 04, 2021 at 4:53 pm

        Cindy that is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing. We love Carolina or vinegar based sauces on pork, so I bet that simmering dish is going to be amazing.

        Reply
    3. Aram says

      June 24, 2021 at 5:24 pm

      5 stars
      Best base recipe out there. I added more of some things and added a little garlic and onion powder and used Franks just because I put that *&%# on everything. lol

      Reply
      • Sean Martin says

        June 24, 2021 at 6:56 pm

        Thank you, and we VERY MUCH appreciate the Frank’s reference!!!! Brilliant!

        Reply
    4. Stephen says

      December 30, 2019 at 8:02 pm

      5 stars
      What a great sauce recipe! I made bbq for Christmas, something I’ve never done before. It was gone !! All of it! I’m making another batch for new year’s!

      Reply
      • Sean Martin says

        December 31, 2019 at 11:17 am

        Awesome! That sauce lasts months in the fridge too with the vinegar, so you get to keep on enjoying it! Happy New Year!

        Reply

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    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

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